Page 17 of Cowboy Wolf Christmas

“This is strictly platonic,” she said. “Necessity.”

He cleared his throat. “You feel the need to tell yourself that?”

“No. I-I felt the need to tell you since . . . ” She felt herself hesitate. “Since you clearly didn’t want me to kiss you that-that time that I did.”

* * *

Silas didn’t knowwhat the hell to say to that. She was wrong. So horribly, incredibly wrong. He had no idea how the woman now scooting over into his arms could have thought that he didn’t want to kiss her, but somehow, she did. It’d been weeks ago. Back in the pack’s hospital wing, when she’d still been healing from her injury. The moment her lips had touched his, he’d nearly ravished her damn mouth. He’d been wild with need. Fucking savage with the taste of her on his tongue. He’d barely been able to pull himself back. Restrain himself.

He was struggling with the same problem right now.

But who could blame him?

This beautiful woman. This tender, kind, curious woman was lying naked in his arms, snuggled against him like she wanted to soak up all of his body heat, curl into him and it was pure unadulterated torture that she wasn’t already riding his cock.

Fuck this noise.

Fuck Maverick and the Grey Wolves for tempting him with what he couldn’t have.

He eased his hips back, in an attempt to behave, placing some distance between their lower halves and nudging the thin material of the sheet between them, but it was hardly any use. She kept drawing closer, and he kept inching farther in this strange sort of push-and-pull dance. But his bare ass was nearly hanging off the side of the bed now, so there wasn’t anywhere left to go, until . . .

“Silas?” she whispered, drawing closer again.

“Mmm,” he grunted. He wasn’t certain he could form words right now and still keep himself restrained, not with all the blood in his body rushing straight to his throbbing dick. His balls ached, strained.

“Why do you keep scooting away?”

Goddamn it. He’d been asking himself just that.

He gritted his teeth. “I’m not supposed to want you, Cheyenne.”

She frowned. “I don’t understand.”

Silas growled. Shit. How was he going to explain this and keep himself in check? He blew out a long steadying breath. “Maverick told me to take care of you. Not to touch you. That’s the trust test.”

“What?” She sat up slightly, anger twisting her face. Enough that the sheet slipped away, exposing one of her breasts.

Silas’ cock throbbed. Goddamn it, he was losing this battle and fast.

“Why would he do that?” Cheyenne looked livid.

“Fuck if I know,” Silas mumbled under his breath, trying to resist looking at her, and failing. His eyes zeroed in on her perfect pert nipple. He wanted to run his tongue all over it, tease it with his teeth, use his tongue to explore other hidden things. Between her legs namely. His mouth watered. “Probably because I’m not good enough for you,” he heard himself saying.

As soon as he admitted it, he wanted to take it back. He was making a mess of this, rambling as he struggled to control himself. Getting dangerously close to the truth. But that’s what darkness did, wasn’t it? Made it safe for more than bare skin to be exposed.

Silas swallowed.

“Is that why you pulled away when I kissed you?” Cheyenne asked with an annoyed huff, sinking back down into the sheets. Silas growled, low and feral, wanting to wrench the covers off her the moment her gorgeous breasts disappeared from him. He wanted to bury his face there. He didn’t even need to breathe. Who needed air when he could havethat?

“Is that why?” she asked again, drawing his attention. “Because you think you’re not a Grey Wolf? Because you think you aren’t good enough?”

Silas shook his head. He couldn’t do this. Not now. Not when his control was already stretched so thin it was tenuous at best. His wolf stirred beneath his skin, every inch of him aware of how close she was. Naked and open to him. All he had to do was reach out and take her. No one was here to stop him, snatch her back from him, steal her away.

He could fuck her until she was screaming his name, and no one would ever know.

No one but them. He was certain of that.

“I don’t deserve you,” he said.

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